Osteospermum Plant Named ‘Balserilla’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserilla’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous and upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserilla’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserilla’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Santa Paula, Calif. during August 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact, and upright growth habit.

The new Osteospermum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding selection designated 224-lop-1, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright-mounded, vase-like growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding selection designated 172-2-3-2, not patented, characterized by its medium purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during February 2006 in a controlled environment at Santa Paula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since February 2006 at Santa Paula, Calif.; Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserilla’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous and upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower size and growth habit. The new cultivar has larger flowers, as measured by flower diameter, than the female parent. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and flower size. The new cultivar has smaller flowers, as measured by flower diameter, than the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Osteospermum cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is FlowerPower Ivory ‘KLEOE05521’, U.S. Plant Patent Applied For. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘KLEOE05521’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences per plant         than plants of ‘KLEOE05521’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets per         inflorescence than plants of ‘KLEOE05521’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balserilla’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balserilla’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balserilla’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jun. 6, 2008 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week prior to transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Balserilla. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding             selection designated 224-lop-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding             selection designated 172-2-3-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 32             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 13 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous and             upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 28.9 cm. Width: Approximately 22.9 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of peduncle:             Approximately 17.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.5 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 21. Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming an obtuse angle             with age. Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Widely dentate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 6.1 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent on margin and sparsely glandular pubescent             on surface. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: 137A with venation of 145B. Color of lower             surface of young foliage: 138B with venation of 144B. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of             145A. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 138A with             venation of 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.5 mm. Texture: Mixture of glandular and             non-glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             145A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balserilla’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal,             held above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and             ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance:             Pungent. Quantity per plant: Approximately 8. Diameter:             Approximately 7.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 10.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color: 144B.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 11.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: 154B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 24.             Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect: Initially             at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at maturity.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with             three tips. Base: Attenuate, fused to form a tube. Length:             Approximately 3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Glabrous with a densely pubescent base. Color of upper             surface when first and fully open: Purer white than 155D.             Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Purer             white than 155D with an overlay of 154D.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 120.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base:             Attenuate, fused. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with a sparsely pubescent outer             surface. Color when fully open: Purer white than 155D with             base of 145D.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Depth: Approximately             6.2 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color. 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 21.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Shape: Linear to lanceolate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture             of upper or inner surface: Densely pubescent at tip. Texture             of lower or outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper or inner surface: 138A. Color of             lower or outer surface: 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around the style.             Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear.             Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 24B.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 24B. Gynoecium:             Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per             floret. Pistil length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Stigma shape:             Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 1D.             Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: Colorless,             transparent. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserilla’, substantially as herein shown and described. 